Kalmia Rd Bridge reopens Friday

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- D.C. commuters will be happy to know that the Kalmia Road Bridge has reopened to traffic Friday. The road connects East and West Beach drives over the Rock Creek Tributary

An average of 16,000 vehicles crossed the 70-year-old span each day before it closed in October last year for repairs. The old bridge was prone to flooding, but now the stream bed has been improved to prevent that from happening.

DDOT officials say they completed the $2 million project on time -- in nearly six months. Crews replaced a structurally-deficient culvert. Officials tell us the culvert partially collapsed in 2009 before the bridge was closed last year.

The six-month timeline was met because crews used a quick bridge construction method which allowed large bridge parts to be made off-site and then transported to the location to be installed, say officials.

The new, wider Kalmia Road Bridge allows more water to pass underneath, has an additional westbound traffic lane and a separate pedestrian walkway for the community.

The Kalmia Road Bridge is reopening after one year. The deteriorated culvert has been replaced with a new bridge structure. (Photo: WUSA)